More and more men are choosing to enhance their appearance with cosmetic procedures and liposuction remains their #1 choice. It’s no wonder given liposuction is both versatile and powerful. In fact, we can use it to shape any area of the body where there is excess fat.
We sat down with board certified cosmetic surgeon Dr. Goffas to get his answers to top questions from male liposuction patients. Read on for some enlightening information!
Can I get liposuction instead of losing weight?
Yes and no. How can opposite answers to this question both be correct? Let me explain.
On the “Yes” side, provided you are in good overall health, you can indeed get liposuction instead of losing weight. Take a man with a double chin and love handles, two very common concerns. If he wanted to get rid of these issues on his own, he could go to extreme lengths, losing weight to the point where he simply doesn’t have enough excess body fat to have either condition. However, we all know how unrealistic that would be—and if you have just a few areas of fat that particularly bother you, I can heartily recommend liposuction as a targeted solution.
On the “No” side, if you are looking for overall slimming of your entire body, or are at a weight that makes it unsafe to have surgery, then liposuction is not a good substitute for weight loss. That said, recent research has shown that higher BMI patients can safely receive liposuction provided other health markers are met.
If you are unsure if weight loss or liposuction would be better for you, it is an excellent idea to meet with a board certified cosmetic surgeon as you embark on your process. They can help you determine your best course of action. Your cosmetic surgeon can also explain how weight loss and cosmetic surgery can complement each other to achieve your goals.
“If you are unsure if weight loss or liposuction would be better for you, it is an excellent idea to meet with a board certified cosmetic surgeon to determine your best course of action.”
Will people know I had cosmetic surgery if I get liposuction?
It would be very unlikely for anyone to realize you specifically had liposuction. There are three main reasons for this. First, while liposuction is more targeted than general weight loss and can take care of specific problem areas, people who notice you looking slimmer afterward will simply assume that you have lost weight.
Secondly, liposuction scars are very small. If someone were to see a healing liposuction scar on your body, they might think you had nicked yourself doing yard work or another activity.
Thirdly, people recover very quickly from liposuction—men typically head back to work just a few days (at most a week) after the procedure. Only if your job involves strenuous physical activity, or if you have more extensive cosmetic procedures during the same operation, will you require more time off.
Can liposuction be used to get rid of my “moobs” (male breasts)?
Yes! Liposuction is a very effective tool for treating male breast tissue (gynecomastia). While some patients also require excision of glandular tissue for a complete result, many men are well served by liposuction alone.
If you are generally very slim, it is more likely that your gynecomastia is at least in part a glandular condition, while men who carry extra weight tend to have enough extra fat in the breasts to get the male breast reduction results they seek from liposuction alone. When you come in for a consultation, we can examine your chest and recommend the right course of action. Even if you should need to have glandular tissue excised, gynecomastia surgery offers an easy recovery and has very high satisfaction rates.
Are liposuction scars visible when wearing swim trunks?
Liposuction scars are typically unnoticeable. This is because the incisions for the procedure are very small, and (with proper care) they become nearly invisible within a year or so.
Initially, however, you may have a few visible marks. This is because we can not treat areas above the beltline without placing an incision for access. For example, love handles are right above the beltline. In this case, a few tiny incisions may be above the waistline of your bathing suit. The good news is they are very small so, even in the early healing period, few would notice them and even fewer people would ever guess that the marks were from cosmetic surgery.
To ensure that your incisions heal to the point of invisibility, just be sure to protect healing scars when out in the sun. Without applying 30+ SPF, fresh scars can easily darken.
“Be sure to look at before and after photos of patients like you. Smooth, attractive results are the sign of a skilled cosmetic surgeon.”
Does it matter what kind of liposuction I get?
Liposuction technology has advanced over the years, and newer technology can both make it safer and decrease recovery time—but your choice of a cosmetic surgeon will be a larger factor in your results. When it comes to liposuction, your surgeon will truly be sculpting a new shape for you, and their aesthetic choices will determine your final look. Be sure to look at before and after photos of patients like you. Smooth, attractive results are the sign of a skilled cosmetic surgeon.
Liposuction technology and safety also matter. Here at our cosmetic surgery center, we typically prefer tumescent liposuction with micro cannulas; we also use VASER technology when it is appropriate for a given patient. Limited areas of liposuction may be performed with light sedation, which can reduce risks and recovery time, and keep your final costs down.
Should you need a larger volume liposuction procedure, it is especially critical that you consider safety; you should only consent to have your procedure at an accredited operating facility. Here at Cosmetic Surgeons of Michigan, we have an AAAHC-accredited surgery center, which means we have hospital-level safety measures in place.
Want to learn more about liposuction for men? Get in touch with us.
We hope this blog post has proved helpful; if you are in the Grosse Pointe area, we’d love to answer more of your questions in a personal consultation. Call us at 586-773-6900 or contact us online today.
